Automatic apron taper



C. D. MCCARTHY AUTOMATIC APRON TAPER Filed July so, 1952 gz-5 3 I Aug. 20, 1935. Q D- MCCARTHY 2,02l4

AUTOMATIC APRoN TAPER Filed July so, 1932 3 sheets-sheet 2 www Aug. 20, 1935. c. D. MccARTn-w I AUTOMTIC APRON TAPER 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed July 30, 1952 aja/'.9

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 NITED jsTATlazs AUTOMATIC APRON TAPER Charles D. McCarthy, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Minnesota Mining &. Manufacturing Company,

St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application July 30, 1932, Serial No. 626,841

18 Claims.

My invention relates to an automatic apron taper wherein means is provided for supporting a supply roll adapted to form the apron supporting means for a tape roll, each supply roll being separately mounted and readily adjustable and resupporting means permits the tape to be adjusted in relation to the marginal edge of the apron sheet so that the apron and the tape may be properly aligned for taping the apron.

A feature resides in providing a, counter-balanced take-up meansfor the slack of the tape between the supply roll and the contacting point with the apron sheet which operates automatically to maintain a uniform tension in the slack portion' of the tape as well as automatically maintaining an approximate uniform slack in the tape between the supply roll and the attaching point to the apron and keeping the wrapper'of the tape approximately constant around the finishing rollers lof the taper. This provides a means of a desirable nature wherein the tape is carried to the apron in prper alignment and is adapted to be attached thereto uniformly without wrinkling to form in a simple manner a taped apron which may be drawn off in the desired length and as needed.

A further means is provided -for positively driving the tape feeding'pulley which draws the tape from the supply roll, the driving means being operated automatically by the travel of the apron sheet from the supply roll through the tape attaching means and over the table of the apron taper. Thus when the apron sheet is pulled from the supply roll the tape feeding roller lor pulley is automatically driven to pull the non-drying adhesive tape from the supply roll, feeding it towardthe take-up pulley which is counter-balanced to assist in adjusting the position of the same.

Further, the apron taper is provided with means for automatically changing the diameter of the tape feeding pulley, the position of. the take-up pulley automatically regulating the diameter of the tape feedingpulley. The apron taper includes a rubber roller xover which the apron passes fromlthe supply roll and a bearing roller of any suitable material which bears down against the apron sheet and keeps it in contact With the rubber roll.as the apron sheet passes over the same in the nal act of attaching the tape to the Aapron sheet. Knurling may be pro- Figure 9.

vided on the bearing roll at the point of contact of the apronand .the tape, attaching the tape to the apron lacting to pound the marginal edge of the apron against the adhesive tape, insuring a iirm attachment of the apron and the tape.

The invention includes the method of making a taped apron having an adhesive tape projecting from the edge thereof, the tape being of 4a nondrying nature and requiring no added moisture to attach the same so as to support the apron. The tape forms the supporting means for the apron to hold the apron in place. The method consists in making a masking apron or the like, in attaching the apron sheet and tape by pulling the sheet and the tape adjusted in relation to each other in a manner to cause the tape and the sheet to be attached together with the tape projecting from the edge of thesheet and with a portion of the adhesive surface of the tape exposed and without touching the same. f 2o The various features and details will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings-forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my automatic apron taper.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same. Figure 3 illustrates a detail of a portion of a taped apron.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail of. a portion of the apron taper.

Figure 'l'illustrates the' spring for holding the `apron and tape rolls on their support under slight tension.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fgure 7.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Figure 1. Figure 10 is a section" on the line Ill-v-l of Figure 11 illustrates a front view of the cam collar for adjusting the tape feeding pulley. i

Figure 12 illustrates diagrammatically the ca tn collar of Figure 11, showing the relative position of the cam wheels which operate the cam collar in a full line position and in a dotted line position.

The apron taper A is automatic in its operation. The taper A is formed with a table portion I0 over which the apron sheet B is drawn from the supply roll C. The table extends across the top of the taper A and the side wall I l closes one side of the same while the Wall l2 `closes the front portion.

l to the wall II while an inset back wall I4 is provided so as to form a compartment betweenY the walls II, I2, I3 and I4, in which some of the operating parts and particularly those which operate as being adjusted to maintain the taper A in proper operating position are inclosed and protected from being tampered with.

Side portions I5 and I6 'extend backwardly from the body of the taper A and are adapted to form a. supporting means between which the supply roll C for the apron is removably mounted. The roll C is mounted upon the shaft I1 which is held stationary in the supports I8 and the shaft is formed with slots I9 spaced along the shaft so as to provide a means of holding different width rolls such as C. By means of the discs 28 which are formed with a slot 2| adapted to fit in the slots I9 and with a spring arm 22 the roll C is adapted to be supported on the shaft I1 between the tension of the discs 20. This forms a simple means for holding the roll C rotatable upon the shaft I1 and with sufficient friction bearing against the ends of the same to hold it from turning too freely.

The adhesive tape roll D of the taper A may be of the desired width and this tape 34 is formed with an adhesive surface 35 of a non-drying nature and is adjustably supported on one end of the shaft 23. The roll D may be held by one of the spring discs 20, as illustrated in Figure 9, with the core tube of the roll fitting over the core member 24 which is supported on the shaft 23. Suitable slots 25. are 'formed in a collar 26 carried by the shaft 23 so as to support the'spring disc 20 in position to bear with a slight spring tension against the side of the roll D.

The shaft 23 is provided with a knurled knob 21 which is xed to the end of the shaft 23 adjacent the roll D and the other end of the shaft is threaded at 28 in the xed bearing 29 which is supported in the side wall II. The bearing 29 is split at 30 and a set screw 3| spreads the same in relation to the threaded end 28 to lock the threaded end 28 so as to hold the shaft 23 in a transverse adjusted position. When it is desired to adjust the shaft 23 the set screw 3l is released and the shaft 23 turned by engaging tne knob 21 and thus the tape roll D may be adjusted to be set in the desired alignment with the sheet coming from the apron roll.

The sheet B from the roll C is adapted to pass under the idle roller 32 which is supported by the ball bearings 33 between the side walls I5 and I6 and thence around the roll 36 which is formed with a rubber covering 31 and which is mounted on the end ball bearings 38 so that the roll 36 may freely rotate around the central shaft 39. End

plates 40 conceal the ball bearings in the roller 36.

Diametrically positioned above the roller 36 I provide a pressure roller :4I which is mounted in the end bearings 42 in a manner to permit the roller 4I to raise and lower and bear with its weight against the sheet B running over the roller 36.

Thus the roller4 I tends to hold the sheet B against the rubber surface 31 of the roller 36 while the sheet B is drawn over the table III and over the cutting edge 43 which permits the sheet B to be cut off in the lengths desired.

The roll 4I is cut away at 44 to reduce the diameter of the same and it may be knurled at to .form a roughened surface thereon. The roller 36 is .formed-with an end collar 45:;of metal or other suitable material having an outer diameter commensurate with the outer diameter of the rubber sheathing 31 andextending beneath the cut away portion 44 and the knurled portion 45 of the roller 4I. This collar 46 forms a solid roller bed over which the tape 34 is adapted to run. The cut away portion 44 spaces the surface of the roll 4I away from the adhesive surface 35 of the tape 34, as illustrated in Figure 6, while the tape 34.laps overland engages under the sheet B and is adapted to be secured thereto with pounding or hammer-like action by the knurling 45.

The tape from the roll D is carried up over the automatically expandible and contractible tape feeding pulley E with the adhesive surface 35 of the tape 34 contacting with the surface of the pulley E. The pulley E is mounted upon theshaft 41 which is held by the frame 48 secured to the under surface of the, table I0 by the bolts 49. The shaft 41 runs in the ball bearings 50 and is adapted to 'be rotated by the gear 5I which is driven by the gear 52. The gear 52 is formed on the collar 53 and a sprocket 54 is mounted to this collar and is adapted to be driven by the chain 55 which in turn is driven by the sprocket 56 secured to one end of the roller 36, as illustrated in Figures l, 4 and 9. Thus when the roller 36 is rotated by the paper sheet B passing over the same, the shaft 41 will be driven through the sprccket 56, the chain 55, the sprocket 54, and through the gears 52 and 5I, `as illustrated in enlarged section of the pulley E in Figure 10. This pulley is made of a spring sleeve 58 which may expand and contract and which bears on the beveled surface of the nut 59 which is threaded to the end of the shaft and held in set position by the set screw 60 which operates in the same manner as the set screw 3| to x the nut 59 in adjusted position on the threads 6I ofthe shaft 41.

A pin 62 keys the sleeve 58 to the shaft 41 so that the sleeve will rotate with the shaft and the key 62 is adapted to fit in a slot formed in 'the collar 63 which is formed with a beveled surface adapted to extend into the end of the sleeve 58 opposite to the end which is engaged by the nut 59. The collar- 63 carries a ball bearing 64 which supports the cam collar 65 and these parts are slidable on the shaft 41 so that the beveled surface of the collar 63 may act to expand or permit the sleeve 58 to contract by its spring tension in accordance with the movement of the collar 63. The shaft 41 supports the ball bearing 66 which in turn supports the sleeve collar 61. A series of anti-friction wheels 68 are mounted in the sleeve collar 61 as illustrated in Figure 9 and are adapted to bear against the cam surfaces 69 which are formed in the cam collar 65. When the collar sleeve 61 is rotated on the bearing 66 irrespective of the rotation o f the shaft 41, the wheels 68 will operate against the cam. surfaces 69 and tend to move the collar 63 with more or less engagement on the sleeve 58 to expand 4 the same or permit it to be contracted when less apron taper A and which is adapted to support.

the take-up idle pulley 1I.' The shaft which supports the pulley 1I from the free end of thelever 18 extends through the slot 12 in the wall The pulley 1I engages againstsv the -backfor nori This permits the pulley 1I to be positioned outside of the wall I3, as illustrated in Figure. 1.`-

adhesive surface ofthe tape 34 and is adapted to rest against thetape to takev up the slackl be'" tween the pulley E` and 'the roller- 36. Couriter`y balancing weight members 13 and 14 are secured to the sleeve 61 so that the pulley 1l may be counter-balanced in its various positions in operation against the tap'e 34. The tape 34 is adapted to extend up to and around the portion 46 of the roller 36 so that as the sheet B is pulled from the supply roll C the tape 34 Iwill be automatically attached marginally' to the sheet B, thus forming an apron for masking and other purposes with the tape 34 attached to the edge thereof and wherein av portion ofy the adhesive surface 35, which is of a non-drying nature, may be exposed beyond thesheet B to permit the apron sheet B to be readily attachedto any ob.- ject when it is desired.

The roll D is adjusted on the shaft 23 so that the tape 34 will align properly to the desired overlap with the sheet B. This permits the apron sheet B to be drawn from the apron taper A and to be automatically taped to the uniform overlap and with a smooth attachment of the tape 34 to the same. It should be borne in mind, that the tape 34 must not be attached to the sheet B so as to cause the sheet to wrinkle by reason-of the tape being unevenly secured along the edge of the sheet which may be caused bythe tape being drawn too tight when attached to the sheet B or too loose. The latter condition would also cause the tape to wrinkle which wouldbe undesirable for a masking sheet. I

With my construction of apron taper the feeding of the tape 34 from the roll D is automatically regulatedby the adjustable pulley E which is controlled by the slack roller 'H and its supporting arm 10. When the pulley H moves downward in the slot 'i2 a greater slack is apparent in the tape 34` between the pulley E and the roller 36, causing the pulley E to automatically contract and feed a less amount of tape tothe roll 38, whereas, when the roller 'll moves upward in the slot 12, the pulley E automatically eX- pands, feeding a greater amount of tape from the roll D. In this'manner my apron taper operatesautomatically to adjust and regulate the feeding of the tape D tothe apron sheet B,'caus ing the tape and sheet to be united uniformly and with a straight attaching edge along the sheet and tape. The main operating parts are inclosed within the casing of the machine and it is only necessary to attach the supply roll C in whatever width is desired on the shaft il, as well as the desired width of tape D to the shaft 23, adjusting the roll D in position so that the desired overlap is obtained between the sheet B and the tape 34 and the machine is ready for operation, so that an apron taper is providedwhich may be operated by anyone to automatically form the apron as the sheet is drawn from the same. Thus the method of making the apron sheet is simplified and the adhesive tape is attached more uniformly than has been possible heretofore irrespective of the former nature of the tape.`

The construction of my apron taper has been set forth in accordance withthe patent statutes and the particular detail ofthe A12o-operating parts, together with the means of accomplishing the results set forth have been shown, however,

it is apparent that the principles of the inven tion should be considered within the scope of the following claims so that the same maybe applied to uses other than those above set forth and carried out by structure within the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1. An automatic apron taper comprising, a frame, a support for a supply roll which is adapt- Vporting means for a supply roll' of paper or the like, means for supporting a relatively narrow supply rollvr of tape having a non-drying adhesive surfacev on one side thereof, and means for Vautomatically uniting the tape and the roll to form a tapered apron, said means including means for automatically'feeding the tape to the-point of uniting the same in overlapping relationship with the apron sheet with a constant tension to prevent wrinkling ofl the sheet and the tape.

3. The method of uniting a non-.drying adhesive tape and sheet to form a taped apron consisting in attaching Ia portion of the adhesive surface of the tape to the sheet as the sheet is pulled from a supply roll, .and feeding the tape with constant tension to the sheet in proportion to the movement of the sheet to form anonwrinkled attaching edge to the apron.

4. An apron taper including, a frame, an ad.- justable support for holding rolls of paper adapt- 'ed to form the apron sheet, means for adjustably holding a non-drying adhesive supply roll of tape, means for adjusting the tape roll in relation to and driven by the edge of the sheet roll, and means for feeding the tape in proportion to the travel of the sheet from the supply roll to` unite the sheet and tape uniformly.

5 lThe method of making a taped masking apron consisting 'in uniting a sheet of paper or similar material with the surface of a non-drying adhesive tape with a portion of the adhesive surface of the tape projecting beyond the edge of the sheet to which it is attached, and feeding the tape with a constant tension to attach the same to the sheet in a manner to prevent Wrinkling of the tape and the sheet.

6. A device for taping a sheet pulled from a supply roll comprising, lroller means through L.

,diameter on said bearing roll providing a space between said rolls for the portion of the adhesive vsurface of said tape which is not adheredto the sheet pulled through said roller means.

L7. A device for taping a sheet and the like with a tape having anon-drying adhesive surface, roller means through which the sheet 4is pulled, means for feeding the tape automatically to the sheet and through theroller means with a portion thereof attached to the sheet and a portion projecting from the sheet in proportion to the rate of travel of the sheet through said roller means.

8. An automatic apron taper including, means for supportingl a supply roll of paper which is adapted to form the apron sheet, means for supporting an adhesive tape having a non-drying adhesive surface, and means for feeding the tape from the supply roll in proportion to the rate of travel of the sheet from lthe supply roll, to automatically unite the tape and sheet together to form a taped apron with a smooth attaching edge.

9. An automatic apron taper comprising, means A for supporting a supply roll of paper or the like adapted to form the apron sheet, means for supporting a supply rollv of adhesive tape, roller means through which the apron sheet and the tape are adapted to pass to tape the sheet automatically, a feeding pulley for pulling the tapey from the supply roll, and means regulated by the slack in the tape between the feeding pulley and the point of attachment with the sheet to increase and decrease the diameter of said feeding pulley to automatically regulate the feeding of the tape to the sheet to form a uniformly taped apron.

l0. An apron taper including, means for attaching an adhesive tape to the apron sheet automatically, means for supporting the sheet and' the tape to bring the same into adjusted alignment and in overlapping relation With each other to attach a portion of the adhesive surface of the tape marginally to the sheet to form a taped apron, and means for automatically varying thel p positions of more or less slack of the tape to increase and decrease the size of said feeding pulley to feed more or less tape from the supply roll.

12. A tape feeder in combination with a support for a supply roll of adhesive tape, means v for pulling the adhesive tape by contacting the adhesive surface thereof from the supply roll held by said support, said means including an expandiblel and contractible sleeve automatically operated in accordance with the slack of the adhesive tape extending from said feeding means to the point of attachment of the tape, whereby when the slack becomes too great, said feeding means will feed less tape and when the slack shortens, said feeding means will automatically feed more tape.

13. A tape feeder for apron tapers and the like including, an automatically expandible and contractible tape feeding pulley adapted to engage the adhesive surface of the tape and pull the same from a source of supply, means for automatically operating said feeding pulley to expand and contract the same in proportion to the def' gree of slack in the tape extending from said feeding pulley to uniformly feed the tape to the apron taper.

14. The combination, an apron taper having means for taping a sheet with an adhesive tape,

.a sheet feeding means, a tape feeding means adapted to pull the adhesive tape from a source of supply, and means for automatically regulating said tape feeding means in proportion to the sheet feeding means and to the degree of slack in the tape from saidfeeding means to the apron taping means.

15. The combination, an apron taper having means for uniting an adhesive tape to the edge of an apron sheet as the sheet is pulled from a source of supply and the` tape is fed from a source of supply, a tape feeding pulley, and means for expanding and contracting said tape feeding pulley in proportion to the slack in the tape from said feeding means to said taper, whereby the slack in said tape is maintained uniform by increasing and decreasing the size of eaid feeding pulley to supply the tape to said apron taper under a uniform tension.l

16. The combination, anapron'taper having means for attaching a sheet and adhesive tape together, and means for feeding the adhesive tape to said apron taper under a uniform tension from a source of supply and at approximately the same feeding rate.

17. The combination, means for supporting a supply of sheet material which is adapted to form an apron sheet, means for automatically attaching an adhesive 'tape to the sheet to form a taped apron, means for supporting a supply of adhesive tape, means for pulling and feeding the adhesive tape from the source of supply thereof, means for driving said feeding means for the tape by said means for attaching the sheet and tape together tov feed the tape in unison with the operation of the attaching of the tape and sheet, and means for automatically regulating the slack between the source of supply of the tape and the attachment of the same to the sheet by controlling said tape feeding means.

tension in the slack thereof to regulate the at- 

